Posted: Sun, Dec 24, 2017, 4:13 PM ET (2113 GMT)
A Long March 2D rocket placed a remote sensing satellite into orbit Saturday. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 11:14 pm Eastern Friday (0414 GMT, 12:14 pm Beijing time Saturday) and placed the Land Survey Satellite 2 spacecraft into orbit. The satellite will be used for remote sensing exploration of land resources, according to state media, but outside observers believe the satellite is part of the Yaogan Weixing of military reconnaissance satellites.